National Infrastructure Commission Chair Sir John Armitt announced as a speaker at the RIA Annual Conference 2023

The Railway Industry Association (RIA) can announce that the Chair of the National Infrastructure Commission Sir John Armitt CBE FREng FICE will address its award-winning RIA Annual Conference & Dinner 2023, which takes place on 1-2 November at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel, London. He will close Day 1 of the conference.

Sir John has had a distinguished career in rail, engineering and construction. He is Chairman of the National Express Group, City & Guilds Group and the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC). Previously he has held senior leadership roles at Costain, Railtrack, Network Rail and the Olympic Delivery Authority. The National Infrastructure Commission recently published its second National Infrastructure Assessment so his speech to the conference is timely.

This year’s Annual Conference theme focuses on “Promoting the case for rail and investment in uncertain times”. Over the space of two days, the programme will combine keynote speeches, panel discussions, interview sessions, spotlight exhibitor pitches and unique networking opportunities for rail suppliers, clients, policy makers and influencers, stakeholders and media. The conference Dinner will include live music and an address by Baroness Grey-Thompson DBE, DL, multi-gold medallist Paralympian, and independent crossbench member of the House of Lords, who has championed the rights of disabled people, including access to rail.

Sir John joins an array of influential speakers at the conference, including:

• Rail & HS2 Minister Huw Merriman
• Shadow Rail Minister Stephen Morgan
• Andrew Haines OBE, Network Rail CEO
• John Larkinson, ORR CEO
• Beth West, East West Rail CEO
• Claire Mann, South Western Railway MD
• Steve White, Southeastern MD
• Rufus Boyd, Interim Lead Director, Great British Railways Transition Team
• Martin Tugwell, Transport for the North CEO
• Maggie Simpson OBE, Rail Freight Group Director-General
• David Camerlengo, Australian High Commission, Senior Trade & Investment Commissioner (Austrade)
• Vernon Everitt, Greater Manchester Transport Commissioner

RIA Senior Marketing & Events Manager, Grace Smithen, said: “We are pleased to announce that Sir John Armitt will make a keynote speech to close Day 1 of RIA’s Annual Conference & Dinner 2023. Conference attendees will find his views on current infrastructure issues valuable, not least because of the National Infrastructure Commission’s recent infrastructure assessment which was delivered to Government.

“RIA’s Annual Conference on 1-2 November has an incredibly strong speaker lineup, with the addition of Sir John making it even more impactful. The Conference & Dinner will also deliver excellent networking opportunities with some great entertainment included too. If you haven’t booked your ticket yet, please do so before it’s too late!”

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